Flowers, Plants & Trees - Learning about Botany

Flowers, Plants & Trees - Learning about Botany

Without plants there could be no life on earth. Because plants are sources of food and other natural resources for construction, clothing, medicines and much more, the study of plants has always been a particularly important concern for human beings. The scientific study of plants is known as botany, and it has been conducted both formally and informally for several centuries.

Although plants had been studied long before his time, the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus (371–287 BC) is widely regarded as the father of botanical science. In his works Enquiry into Plants and Causes of Plants, he developed a classification system for plant life and also worked to understand the different properties of the plants he knew about. Following Theophrastus, the Romans made much use of applied botany in the growing of crops. Islamic thinkers of the ninth through thirteenth centuries AD would study plants and their medicinal uses, and medieval Christians in Europe would develop extensive knowledge of spices and herbs during the age of exploration.

In the eighteenth century, Carl Linnaeus developed a standardized system for classifying plants according to their method of reproduction, and this basic format, with some modifications, is still followed today. More recent figures who have made important contributions to botany include George Washington Carver, an African-American scientist famous for his work with peanuts.

Botany includes several major sub-disciplines including mycology, the study of fungi; pteridology, the study of ferns; paleobotany, the study of plant fossils; and much more. The following resources represent a basic guide to botany. They have been selected to provide every reader with a comprehensive introduction to and overview of botanical science.

General Botany

American Journal of Botany — The American Journal of Botany is a premier scholarly publication of the field of botany. This is its official homepage that includes archived articles and much more.

Botany Resources — The U.S. Federal Government has put together many free educational resources related to botany on this page.

NBII: Botany — Here is an excellent overview page on botany from the National Biological Information Infrastructure.

Science News: Botany — Since 1922, Science News has provided the public with valuable news about botany. Here is a collection of botany articles from that publication.